Sesame Street 20 Years...and Still Counting! - [DVD]

Aimed more at adults than children, the 1989 television special Sesame Street: 20 Years… and Still Counting! is a celebration of the two decades of muppetry, music, and educational content that made the groundbreaking Sesame Street TV series an enduring popular hit, and that shaped the future of television programming for children. Hosted by Bill Cosby, this special features interview footage with the series' creators and cast members, a look at what some of the now-grown-up Sesame Street kids were doing in 1989, and plenty of clips from the show's first 20 years. Characters Bob, Gordon, and Susan reminisce about the past, recalling specific episodes like Miles's birthday party, where they all sang the song "Baby, Baby, Baby," as well as their initial excitement about the show's groundbreaking ideas, including presenting Gordon and Susan as a positive role model of a black couple living in the inner city, and helping inner-city kids get ready for school. Bill Cosby gives voice to some of the show's secrets: a curriculum based on continuing research; writing that is both current and designed for parents as well as their children, as exemplified by scenes like "Miami Mice," "Monsterpiece Theatre," and "Squirrel of Fortune"; and a commitment to making what happens on Sesame Street mirror what happens in life--even if it means tackling tough issues like marriage, birth, death, and adoption. Cosby calls attention to the fact that Sesame Street was the first national children's show that was integrated, including not only children of diverse ethnicity, but also children with physical and mental disabilities. This special showcases many of the series' most classic moments, including Ray Charles's moving rendition of the song "It's Not Easy Being Green" and Plácido Domingo's performance of "Look Through the Window" with fellow Muppet singer Plácido Flamingo. It also provides a glimpse of some of the many coproductions of Sesame Street that aired around the world, in places as diverse as Kuwait, Spain, Germany, and Israel. While children will enjoy the classic Sesame Street footage that's included in this special, it is really a program aimed at the grown-ups who grew up with Sesame Street: it's a chance to reminisce, reflect on just how groundbreaking the show was, and rekindle the excitement of sharing Sesame Street with children and grandchildren. (Ages 2 and older) --Tami Horiuchi --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.